DIY Vinyl Fencing Hole and Crack Repair
Vinyl fencing can last quite a long time with very little effort on your part. Unlike wooden fencing, you won't have to spend days pressure washing and sealing the fence each year. Unfortunately, when the fencing gets very cold and is hit by something, it can crack. If you have a crack or hole in your vinyl fencing that you want to eliminate, you can. Here, you'll find out how.
Buy the Supplies
To fix a crack or hole in your vinyl fence, you'll need the following supplies:
- Spray foam insulation
- Sandpaper (fine and coarse grit)
- Spray primer and paint that matches the fence
- Sharp utility razor
- Mineral spirits and an old cloth
Clean the Area
Before you can begin making any repairs, you need to clean the area. This will give you a clear view of how extensive the damage is, and it will allow the repair materials to adhere to the surface better.
Pour a little of the mineral spirits onto the cloth. Wipe the surface repeatedly until the cloth doesn't remove any more dirt. At this point, let the area dry.
Fill the Holes and Cracks
You will be using the spray foam insulation to fill the holes and cracks. Fill the holes until the insulation begins to swell out of the hole. Spray a bead across the cracks, making sure that the insulation is going into the crack itself.
Now, let the insulation harden and return later.
Smooth and Sand
Now that the insulation has hardened, take the utility knife and shave off the excess material. Do it in thin layers so that you don't end up removing too much.
After you've removed most of the excess material, use the coarse sandpaper to smooth the finish. This can take some time, but the more time you spend with the coarse sandpaper, the less time you'll have to spend with the fine sandpaper.
Finish smoothing the finish with the fine-grit sandpaper and wipe the areas clean with a slightly dampened cloth. Let the area dry.
Primer and Paint
Now that the repairs have been made ready, it's time to conceal them. Apply a thin coat of primer to the repaired areas. Wait for the primer to dry and apply another coat. Let it dry once more.
Spray the area with the spray paint. Apply only one thin coat of paint at a time. If you apply the paint too heavily, it will drip and run leaving things looking less than perfect.
By the time you're done, the holes and cracks will have vanished. If you don't feel comfortable taking on a repair such as this, talk with your local fencing professional for assistance.
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